DIY.. Quilted Bread Basket Cover

This one is just in time to kick off the holidays!! These days it seems like all my seasonal posts come just in the nick of time. It’s not that I am a procrastinator.. I need more hours in every day. Don’t we all?

This funky little chicken isn’t just for the holidays. While the holidays are a great time to showcase it, why not use it all year? It is a great decorating piece. I love how you can lift up each wing up and pull a dinner roll from inside the basket. And this is really easy to make. I know it looks a little hard.. But after you quilt the fabric, it’s just a few steps and then ta-da!

GREAT NEWS! This tutorial is shared over at the Pellon Projects website.. Head on over to download the PDF. It has very detailed step by step instructions including the chicken template. [ Yes, my pattern! ]

Materials Needed:

Printed cotton fabric – 1/2 yard

Solid cotton fabric – 1/2 yard

Felt squares – 2 colors

1/4″ elastic

2 small buttons

Double fold bias tape – home-made or store bought

Rotary cutter, cutting mat and quilting ruler

Chaco quilting marker

Quilt basting spray

Batting – Pellon TP971F Fusible works great

Sewing machine and sewing supplies

Iron and ironing board

Small oval basket – no handles

Before we get started..

I strongly suggest you quilt your own fabric. Please!!?? This chicken is way too cute to go and buy ugly quilted fabric. No worries, I have an easy tutorial you can follow. You can check it out here.

After reading my tutorial, adjust the grid/diamond shape to 2″.

You will also need to back the quilt. Use quilt basting spray. Spray the solid fabric and gently lay onto the batting. This sandwiches the batting between the pattern fabric and the solid fabric. Now place into your sewing machine.. You are ready to quilt.

The chaco marking pen leaves a mark.. But it isn’t permanent; it can be washed off.. You can see that my chicken still has little yellow lines on it.. It was my first sample in the real fabric, so I haven’t washed the lines off yet.

Let’s get sewing:

Lay the chicken and wing pattern pieces on the quilted material and cut out.. Important – mirror the chicken pieces

Cut out the wattle, comb and beak pieces from the felt squares

Cut bias tape for each wing and also the ovals. Pin and then stitch in place. For the wings, leave a 1″ tail when pinning the bias tape down. Sew the bias tape around the oval and then tuck the tail under/towards the back and backstitch.

Fold the beak in half. Place the wattle, comb and beak pieces onto the chicken’s face. The fold of the beak is on top. Note that all pieces face inwards..Seems weird, but trust me

Measure and mark 5/8″ above the oval. Make a small mark with the chaco marking pen.

Pin the wing in place. Adjust accordingly and place in the center of the chicken’s body. The wing needs to fully cover the oval hole. Place into sewing machine and stitch down. Start the stitch approximately 1″ from the wing tip and end 1″ from the the oval center front. Repeat for the other wing

Place right sides together. Pin. Place into sewing machine and stitch with a 1/2″ seam allowance. Press seams. Measure and turn up bottom seam 1/2″. Pin. Place into sewing machine and edge stitch. Leave a small 1″ opening for the elastic

Cut approximately 15″ of elastic. Place a pin at one end and insert into the opening. Pull through entirely. Adjust gathers. Sew elastic together as well the the opening shut.

Well that’s it.. Now you have one funky chicken for your holidays table!! Let me know how it goes.. Please contact me if you have any questions

I love the chicken!! Great tutorial too. I would feel very comfortable making my own for sure so adding to my list of must makes! We would love you to link up to our Snickerdoodle Sunday @ 2crochethooks if you get a chance!